Biography

American politician who announced in May 1987, while the Governor of Arizona, that he would run for the Democratic Presidential nomination. He was not selected, and he took a post as Secretary of the Interior in Clinton's cabinet in February 1993 where he set about revitalizing the National Park Service and increasing the protection of endangered species. Conservation groups embraced him warmly, looking for his efforts to overhaul mining, grazing, water and timber policies in the West.

Babbitt is appropriately suited to carry the environmental message as he comes from a cattle-ranching family, a third-generation Arizona pioneer. He holds a master's degree in geophysics and a Harvard law degree. A graduate of Notre Dame magna cum laude, with post grad work at the University of Newcastle, England, 1962 and Harvard, 1965, he became Arizona attorney general 1975-78 and Governor 1978-87.

He is the author of two books, "Color and Light," and "Grand Canyon: an Anthology."

In 1969 he married Hattie, an attorney; two sons, Christopher and T.J. The family opted to stay in their middle-class Phoenix neighborhood home even when Babbitt became governor. They have a cooperative marriage and believe in hands-on parenting. On weekends, the family heads for their rustic cabin in Red Creek Canyon where they thrive on hiking, fishing, skiing and white-water rafting. Babbitt relates that after 20 years of marriage, his relationship with Hattie is better, stronger and richer than ever.

On 3/27/2000, Babbitt previewed the long-waited Yosemite Valley Plan which would go far to restore and protect the park's splendor without inconveniencing tourists.